Types of Greenhouses: Which Is Best for Your Backyard?

Wed, Dec 31, 2025By: Cori Nunnelee

Picture tending seedlings or keeping delicate plants thriving long after you’ve put the patio furniture away for the season. That’s the benefit of adding a backyard greenhouse. It gives you a protected, climate-controlled space to extend your growing window, start plants earlier in the spring, and shield sensitive varieties from the first frost.

Whether you want to overwinter plants or need room for expanding your gardening projects, a greenhouse offers flexibility and year-round use. But with so many options available, how do you choose the right one for your backyard? This guide will help you find a greenhouse that fits your space, your climate, and your gardening goals.

What to Consider Before Choosing a Greenhouse

Before you start exploring specific models, it’s helpful to understand how a greenhouse works. A greenhouse creates a controlled environment, protecting your plants from harsh weather and pests. By trapping heat and regulating airflow, it provides a more stable setting for growing, overwintering, and nurturing plants that might struggle outdoors. With that foundation in mind, you can start thinking about the size, style, and features that will best suit your garden.

Types of Greenhouses and Steps for Selecting the Right One

Greenhouses come in various shapes and sizes, each serving a different purpose. Some common types include:

Freestanding: These greenhouses are standalone structures that can be placed anywhere in your yard, offering maximum space and flexibility for your plants.
Lean-to: Attached to the side of your home or another building, a lean-to greenhouse is ideal for smaller spaces and provides easy access to utilities.
Cold Frames: These types of greenhouses are smaller, unheated boxes used to harden off seedlings or protect plants during cooler months.

Now that you have a sense of the main greenhouse styles, let's walk through the steps that will help you narrow down your options and find the best fit for you and your yard.

Step 1: Assess Your Backyard Space and Sunlight

Location, location, location. It matters when looking for a home and a home for your greenhouse. A greenhouse needs plenty of sunlight—ideally six hours of direct sun per day. Your greenhouse spot should also be level and have good drainage. Measure the available area to ensure the model you choose will fit comfortably while leaving enough room to move around it.

Step 2: Determine Your Gardening Goals

What do you plan to grow? Your goals will influence the size and type of greenhouse you need. If you want to start seeds for your spring garden, a smaller structure might be sufficient. For those dreaming of growing tropical fruits or protecting a large collection of perennials over winter, a more substantial greenhouse will be necessary.

Step 3: Match the Greenhouse Style to Your Needs

With your space measured and goals defined, you can explore different greenhouse styles. Consider a design that complements your home's architecture. A beautiful wooden-frame greenhouse can become a stunning focal point in your yard, serving as both a functional garden space and an elegant outdoor feature. Such structures are not just practical; they are also attractive backyard improvements that may add value to your property.

Step 4: Choose the Optimal Materials and Accessories

To ensure your greenhouse lasts and provides the most suitable conditions for your plants, it's essential to evaluate the materials used in its construction. For example:

Polycarbonate panels offer excellent insulation and safety.
A sturdy wooden frame, like those made from cedar, provides natural resistance to rot and insects.
Heat-sensitive, automatic roof vent openers maintain temperature and humidity.

You can also enhance your greenhouse with accessories, such as shelving, a workstation, or a tiered plant stand. Think about how you plan to use the structure and what will help you stay organized and work more efficiently. For example, you might add a trellis for hanging summer blooms or set up a dedicated workspace for repotting projects.

Step 5: Find the Best Greenhouse for Your Backyard

Now you’re ready to bring it all together. Compare your top choices based on your assessment of space, gardening ambitions, and preferred style. Look for high-quality construction and features that will support your gardening journey in every season, for years to come.

Choose a Greenhouse That Grows With You

Selecting a greenhouse is an exciting step toward elevating your gardening. With the proper growing shelter in place, your plants aren’t the only things that will thrive—your whole backyard will feel transformed. Explore Yardistry’s premium greenhouse collection and discover the perfect structure to inspire your green thumb.